Rotary sewing-machine.



R. K. HOHMANN. ROTARY SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1909. 1,007,10 Patented 001;. 31, 1911.

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R. K. HOHMANN.

ROTARY SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.16, 1909.

1,007,106, Patented 0ct.31, 1911.

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R. K. HOHMANN. ROTARY SEWING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 16, 1909.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET -3.

uniran STATES Parana OFFICE.

RICHARD K. HOHMANN, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF T0HEWLETT SCUDDER, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

ROTARY SEWING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

Application filed August 16, 1909. Serial No. 513,185.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD K. Horn MANN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of San Diego, in the county of San Diego and Stateof California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRotary Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary sewing inachines and is particularlyadapted to carry an ordinary spool for the lower thread.

It consists in the various novel features pointed out in the followingdescription in connection with the accompanying drawings.

It includes among other things novel means for carrying the loop ofthread around the large holder containing an ordinary spool and a rotarybearing for said holder so arranged and of such small size as to reducethe friction as far as possible.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a front View of the stitchingmechanism of the sewing machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is abottom plan view of the plate of the machine showing my inven tionapplied thereto. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed perspective View of theparts which go to make up my spool holder. Fig. 1 is a longitudinalsection of the spool holder with the parts assembled. Fig. 5 is a sideview of the spool holder as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detailedperspective view of the arm which prevents rotation of the holder duringthe operation of the machine, and Fig. 7 is an end View, partly brokenaway, of the spider head which carries the revolving hook.

In these drawings 1 represents the plate of the machine which is ofusual construction and 2 represents the head which carries the needlebar 3 and the presser foot 1 carried on the vertical movable bar 5. Thepresser foot is held downby the spring 6 and is elevated by the handle 7but these features constitute no part of my invention. Below the plate 1there is a horizontal rotary shaft 8 mounted in bearings 9 and 10 andthis shaft is rotated in the ordinary way by crank connections 11operated as usual from the drive shaft. Thus .shaft 8 through the linkconnection 12, shaft 13 and arm 14L operates the usual feed dog whichengages the cloth fed to the machine beneath the presser foot.

My invention relates directly to the holder for containing the lowerthread and its details are best shown in Figs. 3 to 6. It also includesthe means for supporting the holder and for passing the loop of threadaround it. In order to make a loop of thread pass around a holdercontaining a bobbin or spool it is necessary to provide means fordirecting the sides of the loop upon opposite sides of the holder andthis means must have a considerable angle in order to make the threadpass freely down around the holder. If the angle is too abrupt thethread will bind and will not pass around the holder particularly duringthe rapid operation which is necessary in sewing machines; When theholder therefore is made large enough to contain an ordinary spool ofthread longitudinally at the center the outer margin of the meansemployed to direct the loop around it will necessarily be at considerable distance from the spool itself and will result in a holder ofconsiderable diameter. If rotary means is employed to support the holderby a hearing at the outer margin of the guiding means and to pass a loopof thread around the holder the bearing surface will be of largediameter thus making considerable friction. According to my inventionthe bearing connection between the holder and its rotary support is madewithin the outer margin of the guiding means and close around the spoolitself thus making a bearing of comparatively small radius,notwithstanding the size of the thread holder. As shown in Fig. 2 theshaft 8 has secured to its forward end a frame or spider head 15 whichhas at its outer edge a ring fitting within the flange 16 of the ringlike support 17 and this support 17 is secured to the head 15 by theengagement of the pin on the head 15 with the angular slot 18 in theflange 16 thus making a bayonet joint and securing the parts together insuch a way that they can easily be detached. The support 17 extendsinwardly at right angles from the flange 16 and has at its inner edgethe circular bearing 19. Extending from this bearing 19 outward to theflange 16 there is a cut away portion 20 the sides of which flareinwardly and near the flange 16 there is a loop engaging hook 21extending into the cut away portion and projecting slightly on theforward side of the support. Immediately adjacent this hook and on theopposite side from the bearing there are annular grooves 22 23 in theface of the support extending entirely around it. It will be observedthat this support being secured to the shaft 8 rotates with that shaftcarrying the hook 21 around with it.

The spool holder proper includes a central cylindrical portion of propersize to receive an ordinary spool of thread and it is preferably made upof two telescoping sec-- tions, 24, 25 so that it is separable betweenits ends. It will be understood, however, that the particular meansmaking the holder separable between its ends is not essential and that Ido not limit myself to a separable holder. In the particular form shownthe two ends are made separable for convenience in manufacturing theparts and in assembling them. One end of the tubular holder is closed bywall 26 and mounted in this end there is a central spindle 27 adapted toreceive the sleeve 28 on the retainer 29 which extends across the openend of the cylindrical holder. The retainer 29 is pushed in until it isalmost flush with the open end of the cylindrical holder and does notmaterially project beyond the end thereof. This retainer has an angularlug 30 on one end which fits within angular slot 31 in the .tubularsection 25 and there is a spring 32 which bears against one side of thislug and this yieldingly maintains it in position. It will be understoodthat the spool to be used is placed on the sleeve 28 and before thatsleeve is pushed into place on the spindle 27. The cylindrical part 25is provided with the usual thread slot and opening 33 and with a tensiondevice 34. From the outer edge of this part 25 a flange 35 extends at anangle toward the ring like support 17 the shape of the flange as a wholebeing that of a part of a cone and it will be seen that the flange iscut away for nearly one half of the cir cumference. The outer edge ofthis flange fits in the groove 22 in the support 17 and is provided atits forward edge with a thread engaging hook 36. To the outer edge ofthe flange near its circumference there is secured an arm 37 which ispreferably in the form of a bent wire brought to the point 38 near thehook 36 and at that end secured to the cylindrical portion at 39. Thiswire or arm has an inward bend at 40 almost on a level with the axis ofthe cylindrical portion. The purpose of this bend being to engage an armfixed to the machine and operating to prevent the rotation of theholder.

The cylindrical portion 24 has a flange 41 similar to the flange 35 andthe edge of this flange fits in the groove 23 so that the hook 42 isopposite the hook 36. The part 24 is secured to the part 25 by means ofa pin 43 working in the angular slot 44 making the bayonet joint.Closely surrounding the cylindrical part 24 there is a bearing surface45 having the side flanges 46, 47 making a 3 bearing groove. The flange46 may be made integral with the part 45 but the flange 47 is preferablymade in the form of a removable ring so as to permit the bearing 45 toslide within the circular bearing 19 of the support 17. The ring 47 inthe particular form shown is held in place by a spring catch 48 which isin the form of a split wire ring fitting within a groove immediatelyadjacent to the flange 47. It will be observed particularly by referenceto Fig. 3 that the bearing 45 and the flange 46 are cut away throughouta part of the circumference or from the point 49 to the point 50. Thepoint 50 is behind the forward edge of the flange 41 or in other wordsbehind the hook 42 whereas the point 49 is somewhat in advance of therear edge of the flange. In other words the part 49 is out beyond theedge of the flange. The ring 47 is also partially cut away to correspondwith the cut away portion of the bearing. The purpose of this being toleave an open space between the bearing ring 19 and the bearing surface45 throughout a portion of the circumference and it is through this cutaway portion that the loop of thread is drawn.

The holder is prevented from rotating with the rotary support 17 bymeans of an arm 51 which may be secured to the plate of the machine andwhich is provided with a rounded spring 52 in such position as to bearupon the arm 37 at the bend 40 and it will be understood that the loopof thread which is being drawn up along the arm 37 will pass between thespring 52 and the arm the rounded spring serving to prevent an unduefriction and catching of the thread. Ex tending from the arm 51 there isa finger 53 which extends up within the point 38 as will be seen byreference to Fig. 1. This finger along with the arm 37 serves to preventtwisting of the loop of thread after it is passed around the flanges ofthe holder and has been released therefrom.

To assemble the parts of the spool holder the cylindrical part 24 isinserted within the ring support 17 with the bearing 19 slidably fittingover the bearing 45 and the ring 47 is then slipped into place. The pin54 on that ring being made to enter a hole in the bearing to preventrotation. The spring retainer 48 is then slipped into place thus lookingthe ring 47 against removal. The cylindrical part 25 is then slippedover the open end of the part 24 and the pin 43 entering the slot 44 andby a slight twist the parts are locked together. The sleeve 28 carryingthe spool and having the retainer 29 on its end is then placed inposition. The ring like support 17 may be secured to the end of the head15 at this time or previously by simply pushing it into place andturning it slightly so that the pin will be locked in the slot 18.

support 17 forms the loop of thread which is engaged by the hook 21 andwhich is carried forward toward the two hooks 36, 42 on opposite sidesof the support immediately behind the needle. These hooks 36, 42 engagethe loop on opposite sides of the ring-like support 17 stretching thethread .through the opening 55 which extends from the hook 21 out beyondthe edge of these flanges. As the part 17 rotates one portion of thethread will be stretched across the edges 56, 57 of the flangesextending down through the cut away portion of the bearing 45 near theend 50. It passes down through this cut away portion by sliding down theinclined face 58 of the slot 20. As the part 17 continues to rotate thesides of the loop ride up the inclined flanges 35, 41 of course beingstretched from the point 55 up over the flanges to the needle. Then theopening 55 reaches the rear edges 59, 60 the sides of the loop will havepractically passed over the center of the holder and at this point it isnecessary to commence taking up the thread which has formed this longloop passed around the holder and this operationis performed by the takeup mechanism hereafter described. The loop is drawn up over the inclinedsurface 61 and enters the cut away portion of the bearing 45 which is incommunication with the notch 20 at this moment. If, however, the loopwere allowed to be drawn up freely by the take up it would be likely totwist and become tangled and it is in order to prevent this that I usethe curved arm 37. This arm holds the loop extended and prevents it fromtwisting while at the same time it does not exert any material tensionon the loop and consequently does not prevent it from being drawn upeasily. The finger 53 also bears on one side of the loop and assists inkeeping it straight until it reaches the point 38 immediately adjacentto the needle. In order to draw up properly such a long loop it isnecessary to have a peculiar form of take up. In Fig. 1 I have shownsuch a take up which embodies an arm 62 pivoted to the head of the frameon one side at 63 and having longitudinally of it a slot 64 which has adownward curve at its forward end. A pin or roller 65 works in this slotand is secured to the end of an arm 66 which is in turn rigidly fastenedto a pin 67 carried by the disk 68 mounted on the rotary shaft whichoperates the needle bar through the link connection 69. It will beobserved that the pin 65 closely approaches the pivot point 63 and thattherefore it gives to the arm 62 a quick and long upward throw. Thedownward curve at the outer end of the slot is for the purpose of moregradually stopping the arm at the bottom of this throw.

It will be understood. that I do not confine myself to the specificconstruction of the Various parts and that modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

here I use the term spool holder .it will of course be understood thatthe word spool applies to thread wound either upon an ordinary spool orupon a bobbin, since, as above explained, either may be used.

\Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is 1. A threadholder for ortary sewing machines comprising a tubular portion adaptedto receive a spool of thread, a rotary bearing for said holder closelysurrounding said tubular portion between its ends and means on saidholder extending out beyond the circumference of said bearing forengaging a loop of thread and guiding it around said holder and meansfor passing said loop around the holder.

2. A thread holder for rotary sewing machines comprising a tubularportion adapted to receive a spool of thread, a rotary hearing for saidholder closely surrounding said tubular portion between its ends,inclined flanges on said tubular portion extending out beyond saidbearing for engaging a loop of thread and guiding it around said holderand means for passing said loop around the holder.

3. A thread holder for rotary sewing machines comprising a tubularportion adapted to receive a spool of thread, a rotary bearing for saidholder closely surrounding said tubular portion between its ends and aring like disk having a central opening fitting said rotary bearing andinclined flanges .extending from the ends of said tubular portion tosaid disk out beyond said bearing.

4. A thread holder for rotary sewing machines having means at the centerfor supporting a spool of thread longitudinally, a central circularbearing for said holder surrounding said spool and slightly larger thanthe circumference of said spool, means on said holder extending from theends thereof beyond the circumference of said bearing for directing aloop of thread around it, the said means including a thread engaginghook and a ring-like support for said hearing adapted to pass a loop ofthread around the holder.

5. A thread holder for rotary sewing machines comprising a centraltubular spool surrounding said tubular portion between its ends exteriorflanges extending at an angle from the ends of said tubular portiontoward the middle portion thereof and leaving a ring like openingbetween their edges and a ring-like support for said bearing adapted topass a loop of thread around the holder.

6. A thread holder for rotary sewing machines comprising a centraltubular spool holding portion separable between its ends, a concentricbearing closely surrounding said tubular portion between its endsexterior flanges extending at an angle from the ends of said tubularportion toward the middle portion thereof and leaving a ring likeopening between their edges and a ring like support for said bearingadapted to pass a loop of thread around the holder.

7. A thread holder for rotary sewing machines comprising a centraltubular spool holding portion separable between its ends, a concentricbearing closely surrounding said tubular portion between its endsexterior flanges extending at an angle from the ends of said tubularportion toward the middle portion thereof and leaving a ring likeopening between their edges, the said flanges being similarly cut awaythroughout a part of their circumference and being provided at the outermargin with thread engaging hooks and a ring-like support for saidhearing adapted to pass a loop of thread around the holder.

8. A thread holder for rotary sewing machines comprising a centraltubular spool holding portion a concentric bearing closely surroundingsaid tubular portion at the center the said bearing being cut away for aportion of the circumference, exterior flanges extending beyond saidbearing at an angle from the ends of said tubular portion to a pointadjacent each other the said flanges being cut away for a part of thecircui'nference and means for passing a loop around the holder.

9. A thread holder for rotary sewing machines comprising a centraltubular spool holding portion, made up of two separable tubularsections, a concentric bearing closely surrounding said tubular portionat the center the said bearing being cut away for a portion of thecircumference, exterior flanges extending at an angle from the ends ofsaid tubular portion to a point adjacent each other outside of saidbearing the said flanges being cut away for a part of the circumferenceand means for passing a loop around the holder.

10. In a rotary sewing machine the combination with a rotary shaft of anannular disk secured to theend of said shaft and provided with a centralcircular bearing opening, a concentric tubular thread holder having onits surface a bearing fitting said opening throughout a portion of thecircumference and inclined thread guiding flanges extending from theends of said holder to said disk near its periphery the said flangesextending only a portion of the way around the holder.

11. In a rotary sewing machine the com bination with a spool holder of aring like support having a central rotary bearing for said holder, aloop engaging hook near the outer margin and a cut away portion be tweensaid hook and bearing and a circular groove on the side of said supportconcentrio with said bearing and adjacent said hook.

12. In a rotary sewing machine the combination with a spool holder of aring like support having a central rotary bearing for said holder, aloop engaging hook near the outer margin and a cut away portion betweensaid hook and bearing and circular grooves on opposite sides of saidsupport concentric with said bearing and adjacent said hook.

13. In a rotary sewing machine the com bination with a spool holder of aconcentric ring like support having a central rotary bearing for saidholder and a cut away portion extending from said bearing outwardly witha thread engaging hook near the outer margin and flanges partly cut awayextending from said holder to said ring like support on opposite sidesadjacent said hook and provided with hooks cooperating with said firstmentioned hook.

14. A thread holder for rotary sewing machines comprising a tubularspool holder separable between its ends having thread guiding meansaround and extending from said ends and a rotary bearing between itsends and within the margin of said thread guiding means in combinationwith rotary means for passing a loop of thread around said holder.

15. A thread holder having asurrounding grooved rotary bearing one wallof the groove being in the form of a removable ring and a springretaining collar fitting against said ring to hold it in place in combination with rotary means for passing a loop of thread around saidholder.

16. In a rotary sewing machine the combination with a spool holder of aflange extending from a point adjacent the needle about half way aroundthe holder for directing a loop of thread over the end thereof, and anarm constituting a continuation of said flange for preventing thetwisting of the loop when it is released from said flange and fixedfinger secured to a fixed part of the machine and extending along saidarm.

17. In a rotary sewing machine the combination with a spool holder of aflange extending from a point adjacent the needle about half way aroundthe holder for directmg a loop of thread over the end thereof,

and an arm constituting a continuation of said flange for preventing thetwisting of the loop when it is released from said flange and a fixedarm having a part in the path of said first mentioned arm to preventrotation of said holder.

18,. In a rotary sewing machine the combination with a spool holder of aflange extending from a point adjacent the needle about half way aroundthe holder for directing a loop of thread over the end thereof, and anarm constituting a continuation of said flange for preventing thetwisting of the loop when it is released from said flange and a fixedarm having a part in the path of said first mentioned arm to preventrotation of said holder, and a rounded spring on one of said armsconstituting the point of contact.

19. A thread holder for rotary sewing machines comprising a centraltubular' spool holding portion, a concentric bearing closely surroundingsaid tubular port-ion between its ends and exterior fianges extending atan angle from the ends of said tubular portion toward the middle portionthereof and leaving a ring like opening between their edges the saidflanges being cut away for a portion of the circumference and the saidbearing being correspondingly cut away in combination with a ring-likesupport for said bearing having means for passing a loop of threadaround the holder.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD K. HOHMANN.

Witnesses:

JOHN G. HINKEL, HUGH M. STERLI vG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

